Rohde & Schwarz homepages will be temporarily not available tomorrow morning

Mar 19, 2010 - Maintenance work on Saturday, 20 March

Dear customer,

owing to maintenance work, the Rohde & Schwarz homepages will be temporarily not available on Saturday, 20 March 2010, from 11:00 a.m. to 01:00 p.m. (GMT+1). Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience and visit us again soon.

Rohde & Schwarz comes to NAB with a comprehensive product portfolio for ATSC Mobile DTV, ISDB-TB and DVB-T2

Mar 18, 2010 - At the NAB trade show in Las Vegas, Rohde & Schwarz will highlight transmitter and T&M solutions for the ATSC Mobile DTV, ISDB-TB and DVB-T2 digital standards. Rohde & Schwarz recently scored an industry first when it successfully put into operation an ATSC Mobile DTV multiplexer and exciter fully-compliant with the final A/153 Mobile DTV standard at Sinclair Broadcast Group’s WNUV-DT station in Baltimore. The company is also involved in initial DVB-T2 projects such as that for Arqiva in the United Kingdom. In addition, Rohde & Schwarz provides transmitters and T&M equipment for the ISDB-TB digital broadcasting standard, which is being widely adopted in Latin America.

ATSC Mobile DTV for the USA

In the USA, the ATSC Mobile DTV standard is being deployed at a rapid pace. To facilitate deployment, Rohde & Schwarz is providing an all-in-one solution comprising encoders, multiplexers and transmitters. The company installed the first A/153 standard compliant broadcasting station in Baltimore when WNUV-DT of the Sinclair Broadcast Group was completely upgraded to the new standard on the first day that it was ratified. Another advantage of ATSC Mobile DTV is its ability to set up single-frequency networks (SFN), which offer high frequency economy. All current Rohde & Schwarz transmitters provide standard-compliant support for these networks. The R&S® ETL TV analyzer is also ready to handle the digital standard, providing RF measurements for transmitter installation and SFN optimization. The R&S® SFU, R&S® SFE and R&S® SFE100 broadcast signal generators are quickly proving themselves to be valuable tools in the development and production of ATSC and ATSC Mobile DTV receivers and chips.

ISDB-TB for Latin America

Several Latin American countries have opted to deploy the ISDB-TB digital TV standard. The standard supports the transmission of stationary and mobile TV as well as audio broadcasting. The Rohde & Schwarz portfolio already includes solutions that allow network operators to expand their infrastructure cost-effectively: As the leading broadcasting specialist, Rohde & Schwarz offers a complete range of high- and medium-power transmitters covering ISDB-TB. In summer 2010, the R&S® SCx8000 low- to medium-power transmitter will be enhanced to handle the standard. It is currently the most compact and efficient transmitter of its power class. To close remaining coverage gaps, the R&S® XLx8000 on-channel repeater is a reliable and cost-effective choice. In the T&M domain, the R&S® ETL TV analyzer will be used at the trade show to demonstrate SFN measurements for ISDB-TB. The product portfolio is rounded out by the R&S® SFU, R&S® SFE and R&S® SFE100 broadcast signal generators for use in the development and production of ISDB-TB TV receivers.

Rohde & Schwarz will hold a seminar tour in Latin America on the topic of ISDB-TB. At these seminars, network operators can learn how to convert smoothly from analog to the new DTV standard. Interested parties can register for the seminar at the company’s booth during NAB.

DVB-T2 for Europe

Rohde & Schwarz products also support the launch and proliferation of DVB-T2. The new standard is an enhancement of DVB-T. Thanks in large part to new techniques, DVB-T2 provides transmission capacity that is more than 30 percent higher. This allows more programs and, above all, content to be transmitted in HD quality. Rohde & Schwarz already offers the R&S® SFU for tests on DVB-T2 receivers and the R&S® ETL TV analyzer for measurements during initial transmitter installation. In addition, all current-generation Rohde & Schwarz transmitters are ready for DVB-T2 and are already being used in many pilot projects worldwide.

The Rohde & Schwarz exhibit at NAB will be at booth SU 3717 in hall S4 from April 12 to 15, 2010.

Rohde & Schwarz extends its lead in network analysis with first four-port network analyzer up to 67 GHz

Mar 04, 2010 - The high-end R&S® ZVA67 vector network analyzer from Rohde & Schwarz is now also available as a four-port model. This is the first network analyzer on the market to feature four test ports for measurements up to 67 GHz. Its high dynamic range (110 dB at 67 GHz) and output power (6 dBm at 67 GHz) give the R&S® ZVA67 the flexibility and performance required for characterizing components and modules in the microwave and millimeter-wave range. It allows users in research and development to determine the S parameters of multiport devices quickly and with high precision. As an extra benefit, the analyzer's four internal signal sources reduce test system complexity and the number of instruments required, e.g. for measuring frequency-converting DUTs, because no external signal generators are needed.

The new R&S® ZVA67 vector network analyzer, with its unique architecture that includes four ports, four integrated signal sources and eight receivers, enables measurements on multiport devices such as mixers, couplers or balanced DUTs, with just one instrument. With its high output power of 6 dBm and wide power sweep range of > 40 dB, the R&S® ZVA67 is able to characterize the small- and large-signal behavior of active components. Linear and nonlinear measurements can be carried out using a simple test setup. This advantage becomes apparent, for example, when measuring the S parameters or intermodulation of mixers or amplifiers, or when measuring the group delay and phase of up- or downconverters.

Offering a frequency range up to 67 GHz, the four-port R&S® ZVA67 covers the band intended for the wireless transmission of multimedia data (wireless HDMI). Additional applications can be found in the aerospace and defense sectors, including measurements on inter-satellite communications systems and point-to-point communications systems. The analyzer’s wide dynamic range of 110 dB at 67 GHz also makes it a valuable tool for material measurements or microwave imaging applications.

Frequency converters from Rohde & Schwarz extend the frequency range of the four-port network analyzer to beyond 325 GHz. Due to its outstanding performance, the R&S® ZVA67 enables users to advance the development of materials and technologies into much higher frequency ranges.

Rohde & Schwarz Japanese Headquarters moves to new location

Mar 01, 2010 - Rohde & Schwarz Japan moved to a new building on February 13, 2010, in the vicinity of the present offices.

The new office is on the 27th floor of the building, which was completed in 2009 and offers easy access. The office is just a 10-minute walk from Shinjuku Station in the center of capital, making it very convenient for customers to attend the monthly technical seminars. The biggest seminar room has capacity for 46 participants and is also suitable for holding a career fair.

The employees, previously spread across three floors, are now all located on the same floor, thus greatly improving communication and productivity. We can work in unison to offer optimum customer support.

Please feel welcome to visit the new headquarters of Rohde & Schwarz Japan.

New contact data:
Rohde & Schwarz Japan K.K.
Headquarters, Tokyo Sales Office
Sumitomo Nishi Shinjuku Building 27F, 7-20-1,
Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan
Phone: +81 3 5925 1288
Fax: +81 3 5925 1290

Shaping the future of digital television: Rohde & Schwarz tests hands-on knowledge of young engineers

Feb 26, 2010 - It is hard to imagine life today without digital television. Rohde & Schwarz puts young engineers to the test in this field. For the seventh time the company is teaming up with the German Association for Electrical, Electronic and Information Technologies (VDE) to host its international case study competition. Engineering students from Germany and Singapore are invited to explore the DVB-T digital television standard and its successor, DVB-T2.

DVB-T has been gaining ground since 2002. However, this standard, which supports digital TV reception via antenna, is beginning to run up against its transmission capacity limits. Consequently, the next digital broadcasting technology generation, DVB-T2, is already waiting in the wings. The motto of this year’s case study competition is, "Move up to the next level – the future of digital broadcasting is in your hands!" The students’ assignment will be to prepare a presentation and then deliver it to network operators or program providers. The goal is to persuade them to use DVB-T2 to broadcast their services. To prepare their presentations the students must accomplish various tasks along the way. After all tasks are completed, each university’s winning team will be selected by a jury made up of a professor from the university as well as an engineer and a human resources manager from Rohde & Schwarz.

The preliminary rounds of the 2010 case study competition will take place between May 10 and June 7 at the participating universities, with the exception of Singapore. The two qualifying rounds for students at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) will take place at the Rohde & Schwarz office in Singapore.

In the final, scheduled for June 17/18 at Rohde & Schwarz headquarters in Munich, the winning teams from the various universities will go head to head. The winners will take home Apple iPads as well as a 2000 euro cash prize for their university. But your participation will be rewarderd in any case: Every participant achieves a technical text book from Rohde & Schwarz.

For more information and registration please check out www.fallstudienwettbewerb.de or, for students from Singapore, www.engineering-competition.com.

R&S®TS-EMF portable system for EMF measurements with new frequency range from 9 kHz to 6 GHz

Feb 25, 2010 - The R&S®TS-EMF portable system is ideal for safety-related electromagnetic field measurements, since it is highly reliable and makes it easy to prove compliance with the limits of different radio services. The new R&S®TSEMF-B2 and R&S®TSEMF-B3 isotropic antennas from Rohde & Schwarz perfectly meet the requirements for rolling out and for widespread use of new wireless technologies that increase the intensity of electromagnetic fields in the environment.

New communications services such as WLAN 802.11a and WiMAX™, with frequencies between 3 GHz and 6 GHz, require a frequency range extension of the measuring equipment for surveys, risk communication and studies. The R&S®TSEMF-B2 isotropic antenna can cover this extension. The antenna, featuring a frequency range from 700 MHz to 6 GHz, is also suitable for measuring EMF standards such as EN50499 and can measure all relevant wireless services in a single operation.

Many LF and HF transmitters contribute significantly to the total EMF budget, even if they are not in the direct vicinity of the measurement site. The new R&S®TSEMF-B3 isotropic antenna, which has a frequency range from 9 kHz to 200 MHz, makes it easy to perform measurements for standards that require evaluation of relevant transmitters starting at 9 kHz. The antenna even performs higher-sensitivity measurements in the frequency range from 30 MHz to 110 MHz, allowing more distant FM transmitters to be detected.

Rohde & Schwarz receives 2010 Best Practices Award as “Secure Military Communications Vendor of the Year”

Feb 22, 2010 - Since 2008, Frost & Sullivan has awarded highly commendable vendors with best practices in aerospace and defense. This year Rohde & Schwarz received the Best Practices Award as “Secure Military Communications Vendor of the Year”.

This is the second time that Rohde & Schwarz has received an award from Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific: In 2008, Rohde & Schwarz was given the “Military Communication OEM of the Year” award. Rohde & Schwarz earned excellent reviews in almost every criterion that Frost & Sullivan used to determine the best practices:

• Features/functionality
• Quality/complexity
• Value-added services
• Service, support and training
• Brand recognition/awards and achievements

Rohde & Schwarz achieved 8.6 points as compared to 8.0 and 7.8 points of the key competitors. The greatest potential for improvement is in brand recognition/awards and achievements. A total of 17 leading organizations in the fields of general aviation, defense, homeland security, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), aerospace manufacturing, major support services, airports and commercial air transportation were reviewed by the Frost & Sullivan jury.

Compact EMC test solution

- The new R&S® R-Line test chamber from Rohde & Schwarz combined with the R&S® TS8996 test system delivers an EMI/EMS test performance and accuracy for wireless devices that is comparable to that of systems 10 times larger. During development this compact solution replaces a complete anechoic chamber and complex setup for the critical frequency range of 800 MHz to 18 GHz. It is as effective up to 40 GHz. The R&S® R-Line fits into any lab and will significantly reduce infrastructure investments for manufacturers and test houses.

The Rohde & Schwarz solution meets all S-VSWR validation requirements defined in the CISPR16-1-4:2007 standard. This translates into a compact and economical solution for measurements in the microwave range that can be used in the R&D lab.

The benefits of this compact, high-performance system are numerous, including the ability to optimize factors such as radiated spurious emissions during the development phase. This can eliminate complex modifications during the final conformance tests, which significantly reduces time-to-market.

Further test capabilities in the microwave range can be added with software upgrade packages. This allows designers to determine parameters such as radiated power and sensitivity and to carry out free-space, over-the-air (OTA) performance measurements. As a result, comprehensive RF OTA characterization of the wireless device can begin while the device is still in development.

The R&S® TS8996 test system consists of tried-and-tested instruments from Rohde & Schwarz that stand out for their unsurpassed measurement accuracy and reliability: A typical system includes the R&S CMU200 mobile radio tester, the R&S® FSP or R&S® FSU spectrum analyzer, and a signal generator for calibration.